Harvard writer: Free speech threatens liberalism and must be destroyed

If this Harvard University student got her way, free speech on campus would be abolished and professors with dissenting views fired, because radical leftism is the only permissible political philosophy and the First Amendment is a barrier preventing modern colleges from fulfilling their proper role as indoctrination camps.

Her name is Sandra Korn. She is a senior at Harvard and columnist for the Harvard Crimson.

In a recent column, Korn unambiguously insisted that the university should stop guaranteeing professors and students the right to hold controversial views and pursue research that challenges liberalism.

“If our university community opposes racism, sexism, and heterosexism, why should we put up with research that counters our goals?” asked Korn in her column.

The column’s subtitle was even more direct: “Let’s give up on academic freedom in favor of justice.”

Korn cited several instances of perspectives that clashed with her own being banned from campus as triumphant examples of the way Harvard should be run. The firing of Subramanian Swamy, a Harvard summer school instructor who was dismissed for his anti-Islamic views, was one such triumph.

She also invoked the academic boycott of Israel — something condemned by Harvard President Drew Faust and numerous other university presidents — as an example of the kind of tactics leftists should defend and use in order to get their way on campus.

Korn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Her sharp rejection of intellectual freedom — a value enshrined by U.S. law and central to the success of American institutions of higher learning — is common among left-wing activists at elite colleges. Last week, Erin Ching, a sophomore at Swarthmore College, took a similar view when she criticized her university for committing the unforgivable crime of allowing a conservative — Christian thinker Robert George — to speak on campus.

“What really bothered me is, the whole idea is that at a liberal arts college, we need to be hearing a diversity of opinion,” she said, according to the Daily Gazette. “I don’t think we should be tolerating [George’s] conservative views because that dominant culture embeds these deep inequalities in our society.”

George, a Swarthmore alumnus, came to campus to debate Cornell West.

Pro-life students at the University of Alabama were victims of a similar belief that conservative views should not be publicly espoused on campus. (RELATED: U. of Alabama censors pro-life students for ‘offensive’ poster)

And at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, merely emailing an inoffensive .gif of President Barack Obama kicking a door triggers an investigation. The perpetrator was forced to apologize for committing a racial insensitivity. (RELATED: Student forced to apologize for emailing pic of Obama kicking a door, because RACISM)

He's obviously reading the Daily Caller interpretation of the column and not the actual column. I don't really agree with her, but it basically a principle that the right has argued in favor of for years.

I'd also point out another pathetic right-wing trait--calling out what some obscure person as if it is of national importance. This was a college student who wrote an editorial for the school paper. Good job taking on the big and powerful, Daily Caller.

You can see in her article that she has a healthy dose of crazy. The kind of crazy that should make it pretty easy to dismiss her.

The actual campus liberals in charge are the ones who favor all the diversity and research being done. The article is about a feminist liberal complaining about the liberal policies at the private institution. What is so important and damaging about this?

First off, I'm not so certain that actual administrators/presidents of colleges are all that liberal. Perhaps some are, but many (while clearly being Democrat) are moderate in the public sphere and hired for fundraising, accomplishments, their name in the outside world, etc. Think Larry Summers at Harvard - and how the students tried to run him out of there.

Actual liberal students at our universities do not support diversity or tolerance. This is inarguable.

He's obviously reading the Daily Caller interpretation of the column and not the actual column. I don't really agree with her, but it basically a principle that the right has argued in favor of for years.

I'd also point out another pathetic right-wing trait--calling out what some obscure person as if it is of national importance. This was a college student who wrote an editorial for the school paper. Good job taking on the big and powerful, Daily Caller.

Right - but then Ted Nugent who actually campaigns with important politicians - is completely irrelevant.

You're a pretentious drama queen, but I don't think you're stupid. Why are you acting like it?
Grow a spine and tell your fans how hypocritical is to suddenly be against something they have whined about wanting forever.

Show me an instance of someone advocating censure or removal for even the most wild-eyed of liberal theories, or apologetics for repressive regimes, or outlining of how wonderful life was in USSR or China or even S.Korea, or how imperialistic the US is, or what they did to the Native Americans, whatever.

Censure and removal calls generally don't occur until killing is advocated or slanderous accusations of bodily crimes are alleged at specific people.

I'm as first amendment as they come, MoF, I'm NOT one of those who advocate pulling people out of their jobs unless they are outright psychotic (ie, 'I propose we all meet up and kill xxx, and yyy by hanging Thursday next'), but I do recognize the material difference between stifling speech about academic research and stifling calls to arms for violence.

He's obviously reading the Daily Caller interpretation of the column and not the actual column. I don't really agree with her, but it basically a principle that the right has argued in favor of for years.

I'd also point out another pathetic right-wing trait--calling out what some obscure person as if it is of national importance. This was a college student who wrote an editorial for the school paper. Good job taking on the big and powerful, Daily Caller.

Yeah, this is Shirley at Greendale.

She's the editor for the paper of record at the University from which EIGHT of our presidents received their degrees.

And don't get me started on the 100s and 100s of 'Republican city councilman in Roanoke, VA said gays are icky today' threads we've had on this site.

Cosmo doesn't agree with this gal and Mr. Tegu says she has a healthy dose of crazy, but that doesn't stop them from zeroing in with vague criticisms of conservatives with whom they essentially agree. Fantastic.

__________________

“The American people are tired of liars and people who pretend to be something they’re not.” - Hillary Clinton

Show me an instance of someone advocating censure or removal for even the most wild-eyed of liberal theories, or apologetics for repressive regimes, or outlining of how wonderful life was in USSR or China or even S.Korea, or how imperialistic the US is, or what they did to the Native Americans, whatever.

Censure and removal calls generally don't occur until killing is advocated or slanderous accusations of bodily crimes are alleged at specific people.

I'm as first amendment as they come, MoF, I'm NOT one of those who advocate pulling people out of their jobs unless they are outright psychotic (ie, 'I propose we all meet up and kill xxx, and yyy by hanging Thursday next'), but I do recognize the material difference between stifling speech about academic research and stifling calls to arms for violence.

The guy from Colorado and the guy from Kansas come to mind.
If you're claiming wingers haven't called for the heads of "liberal" professors, you're either being dishonest or not paying attention.

Harvard writer: Free speech threatens liberalism and must be destroyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Cosmo doesn't agree with this gal and Mr. Tegu says she has a healthy dose of crazy, but that doesn't stop them from zeroing in with vague criticisms of conservatives with whom they essentially agree. Fantastic.

The idea that this article is some great example of liberal intolerance and problems with universities is dumb. It needs to be pointed out. Also, disagreement is not a requirement for commenting on overzealousness.

I for one look forward to the Daily Caller exposing more college students. Hopefully they will step it up and put the spotlight on some of the wild high school editorials out there. Someone, somewhere, is proposing a completely ridiculous theme for prom.

The guy from Colorado and the guy from Kansas come to mind.
If you're claiming wingers haven't called for the heads of "liberal" professors, you're either being dishonest or not paying attention.

The guy from Kansas was tweeting that he was hopeful that gun rights supporters would be gunned down in cold blood, as I recall, and that was the reason for the outrage. Not that he was pro-control per se, but more that he was pro NRA folk being gunned down in cold blood...which is what Baby Lee was referring too, and what clearly went over your head.